Gilbert James Newsome, 81, of 476 Flat Branch Road, Gatesville, NC, died Sunday, July 21, 2019, in his home.

Mr. Newsome was born in Halifax County on July 27, 1937, and was the son of the late Robert Glenwood Newsome and Rosadel James Welch. 

Retired from the Roll Finishing department of International Paper, in earlier years he was the owner and operator of Newsome Tire Company in Murfreesboro. He was a member of Gatesville Baptist Church, where he had served as a deacon and as a Sunday School teacher. A veteran, he had served in the Army.

Surviving are his wife of nearly 30 years, Ethel Parker Plyler Newsome; three daughters, Deedra N. White and husband, Alan, of Fishersville, VA, Dana N. Hardin and husband, Mike, of Conway, and Denise N. Edwards and husband, Tony, of Margarettsville; two sisters, Pansy Fowler of Hamlet and Barbara Moody of Clayton; two brothers, Durwood Newsome of Mechanicsville, VA and Keith Newsome of Roanoke Rapids; and a step-sister, Doris Jewett of Richmond, VA. Also surviving are Ethel’s children, Deborah P. Duck and husband, David, and Tim Plyler and wife, Beverly, all of Gatesville. Together Gilbert and Ethel shared 11 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren.

 Funeral services will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Gatesville Baptist Church and will be conducted by his pastor, The Rev. Tom Holland. A private burial will follow in the Gatesville Cemetery. Friends may join the family in the social hall of the church immediately following the service, or all other times at the residence.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Samaritan’s Purse, P.O. Box 3000, Boone, NC 28607 (online at www.samaritanspurse.org/donate), or to the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, Charlotte, NC 28201 (online at www.billy.graham.org/Christian/Ministry).

Miller Funeral Home, 304 Main Street, Gatesville, is handling arrangements, and online condolences may be made by visiting www.millerfhc.com.